She should spend rest
of her life in prison
No, I don’t believe that Leslie Van Houten should ever be paroled. She was sentenced to death. The people of California voted for the death penalty but the California Supreme Court, in their infinite wisdom, ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972. She was already spared the sentence that she was given. To commend her for “improving herself” and taking advantage of the time on earth that she was allowed is simply ludicrous.
What about Mr. and Mrs. La Bianca? What happiness were they denied, what help to their families were they not allowed, what love and devotion could they have given their children and grandchildren? What was the life they were meant to live?
It is for God to judge Leslie Van Houten. The privilege of going about life without restraint should have been given to Leno and Rosemary. But she brutally killed them with no regard for life. She should spend the rest of her days in prison.
— Marsha Husband,
Rancho Cucamonga
She paid the price
Both governors and the president have too much power when they can condemn or release criminals at their personal whim. How can Gov. Jerry Brown have the insight to know that Leslie Van Houten would be a menace to society? Yet he is the decision maker. He is more likely to vote as he pleases than listen to how the citizenry feels about her.
I believe Van Houten has paid the price with her life of imprisonment for her evil deed, and should now serve society with the skills she has gained in prison. I do not believe that one man should exercise his own judgment in such an important process. He should seek what the people want and follow that, knowing that many are more important than a single voice of reason.
— Ray Gould, Whittier
She’s still a threat
Absolutely not. No member of the Manson family should ever be paroled. Did the La Biancas get a second chance? No. I don’t care if they were high on drugs, they viciously attacked and murdered the La Biancas.
I hope Leslie rots in prison. She is still a threat to our society and being in prison all these years will not change a thing, she is still a murderer. Look at the people she has been associated with — prisoners.
— Gilda Smith, Joshua Tree